Selective spray dispenser



April 9, 1963 J. M. PuGLls 3,084,871

Filed July 24, 1961 l .2 snexssue-et 1 60 56 58 8 40 82 T@ A K 80 Fig.Lsn *Y* \\\\\A` 70 54 l mm` /8 sELEcTIvE SPRAY DISPENSER "`\\\xv`\\\\/64 2 Hrw 68 Vl/ 6'2 "l, 6 72 Joseph M Pug/is INVENTOR.

36 BY mmzm www3/h April 9 1963 J. M. PUGLls 3,084,871

SELECTIVE SPRAY DISPENSER Filed July 24, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Josep/7M. Pug/s j; l Y INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,084,871 SELECTIVE SPRAY BESPENSER Joseph M.Puglis, Paterson, NJ., assigner of fifty percent to Syneur ScientideLaboratories, Inc., Monticelio,

NX., a corporation of New York, and twenty-tive percent to .laines C.Puglis, Monticello, NX.

Filed .lilly 24, 1961, Ser. No. 126,026 12 Claims. (Cl. 239-3tl5) Thisinvention relates to a novel and useful selective spray dispenser andmore specifically to a support assembly adapted to support a pluralityof pressurized containers and provided with means for selectivelydischarging a selected one of the plurality of containers.

While the selective spray dispenser of the instant invention will haveother uses, it has been specifically adapted for use in connection withsmall pressurized containers in which may be disposed different types ofperfume, cologne, hair set, deodorants, or hand creams, etc. Theselective spray dispenser is constructed in a manner whereby a selectedone of the pressurized containers may be discharged by manipulation of asingle actuating means.

The selected spray dispenser of the instant invention includes a casingor housing including means for supporting a plurality of pressurizedcontainers in an upright position and disposed in a circle about acentral portion of the dispenser. The dispenser of the instant inventionillustrated and described herein, while being readily adaptable for usewith other types of pressurized containers without departing from thespirit of the invention, is to be used in conjunction with pressurizedcontainers having valve assemblies in their upper end walls includingactuators movable inwardly and axially of the pressurized container. Thedispenser includes abutment means opposing the upper end walls of thepressurized containers disposed therein and the containers are supportedwithin the dispenser in a manner whereby they may be moved vertically. Ashank portion or member is journalled for rotation from the dispenserfor rotation about and reciprocation along an axis substantiallyparalleling the direction of movement of the pressurized containers andcentrally disposed with respect to the containers. The lower end of theshank portion is provided with a laterally directed arm which isregisterable with the lower ends of the pressurized containers. Thus,the arm may be registered with the bottom of a selected container andthe shank portion may then be reciprocated longitudinally in order toeffect movement of the selected container toward the abutment meansopposing the movable actuator of the valve means of the selectedcontainer. The abutment means of the dispenser is provided with suitablepassage means registerable with the outlet openings of the dischargevalve assemblies carried by a pressurized container whereby uponmovement of a selected container toward the abutment means the dischargeopening of the valve assembly of that container will be registered withthe corresponding passage means.

The main object of this invention is to provide a selective spraydispenser which may be utilized in conjunction with a plurality ofpressurized containers having different materials disposed therein andfor discharging a selected one of the pressurized containers. p

A further object of this invention, in accordance with the precedingobject, is to provide a selected spray dispenser provided with means foryieldably retaining the aforementioned arm in registry with a selectedpressurized container whereby the latter may be unerringly discharged.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a selective spraydispenser in accordance with the preceding objects and which isconstructed in a manner whereby a rice selected one of the associatedpressurized containers may be readily removed and replaced.

A final object to be specically enumerated herein is to provide aselective spray dispenser in accordance with the preceding objects whichwill conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simpleconstruction and easy to use so as to provide a device that will beeconomically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble-free inoperation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical sectional view of the selective spray dispenserof the instant invention taken substantially upon a plane passingthrough the center of the dispenser;

FIGURE 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon theplane indicated by the section line 2 2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon theplane indicated by the section line 3-3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is an exploded perspective view of the spray dispenser; and

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view similar to that of FIG- URE 1 with parts ofthe dispenser being broken away and the actuator therefor in positionfor discharging one of the pressurized containers disposed in thedispenser.

Referring now more specically to the drawings, the numeral 'lilgenerally designates the selective spray dispenser ofthe instantinvention. The dispenser 10 includes a cylindrical side wall portiongenerally referred to by the reference numeral 12 and a bottom wallgenerally referred to by the reference numeral 14 which is threadedlyengaged with the lower end of the cylindrical side wall 10 as at 16. Thedispenser lll also includes a top wall generally referred to by thereference numeral 1.8` which is threadedly engaged with the upper end ofthe cylindrical side wall 12 as at 20.

The cylindrical side wall 12 includes a plurality of inwardly directedand radially extending positioning ribs 22 which are adapted to engagethe cylindrical side walls 24 of the plurality of pressurized containersgenerally referred to by the reference numeral 26. The top wall 18 has acentrally disposed bore 28 formed therethrough and the diametricallyreduced upper end portion 30 of a mounting sleeve generally referred toby the reference numeral 32 is journalled for rotation in the bore 28.The sleeve 32 has a longitudinal bore 34 formed therethrough and extendsdownwardly into the dispenser 10 to a point a spaced distance above thebottom 14. The bottom wall 14 has an upwardly opening recess 36 formedtherein and it will be noted that the shoulder portion 38 of the bottomwall disposed outwardly of the recess 36 supports the bottom ends of thepressurized containers 26 An end cap generally referred to by thereference numeral 40 is threadedly engaged with the upper end of thesleeve 32 projecting through the top Wall 18 as at 412, for preventingdownward movement of the sleeve 32 through the bore 23. I-t will benoted that the upper yand lower surfaces of the top wall and end cap 4t)respectively are disposed in surface to surface contacting relation andthat an elongated shank portion 44 is rotatably and reciprocablyreceived in the bore 34 formed in the sleeve 32. The upper end of theshank portion 44 is diametrically reduced as at 46 and has a blind bore4S formed therein. The diametrically reduced end portion 46 is receivedbetween the furcations 5o and 52 Yof the bifurcated end of an actuatinglever generally referred to by the reference numeral 54. The end capAlti includes a bonnet portion generally referred to by the referencenumeral 56 defining a cavity 5d within the end cap do and it will benoted that the diametrically reduced portion lo and the bifurcated endof the actuating lever 5d are disposed in the cavity 58. A headedfastener oil has its shank portion 62 threadedly engaged in the blindbore 48 in order to retain the bifurcated end of the actuating lever'ddisposed in engagement with the shank portion 44.- and scycured inposition against axial movement relative to the shank portion dit. Anintermediate portion of the actuating lever Sllis pivotally secured tothe bonnet portion 56 as at `64 and the end of the actuating lever54tremote from the bifurcated end portion thereof projects outwardly ofthe bonnet portion 5d.

The outer surfaces of the sleeve 32 disposed within the confines of thecylindrical side wall l2 prevents the pressurized containers 26 frommoving radia-lly inwardly of the dispenser lt) while the inner surfacesof the cylindrical side walls l2 prevent the pressurized containers Z6from moving radially outwardly of the dispenser lll. However, theradially inwardly directed ribs 22 provide for guided movement of thepressurized containers 26 toward and away from the top and bottom wallsl@ and 14 and it will be noted that each of the pressurized containers26 includes a valve assembly generally referred to by the referencenumeral 66 including an actuator titi which is movable inwardly andaxially of the corresponding container 2e for actuating the dischargevalve assembly 66 thereof. The top wall It includes a plurality ofradial discharge bores 7@ equal `in number to the number of containers26 and the inner end of each of the discharge bores *70' communicateswith an upstanding passage 72 whose lower end is provided with acounterbore 74 which opens downwardly into the interior of the dispenserlt] and in which the actuator 65 of the corresponding valve assembly d6is snugly receivable.

The lower end of the shank portion ed has a laterally directed arrn 76extending radially outwardly therefrom and the lower end of the sleeve32. is provided with a longitudinally extending slot 'i8 through whichthe arm 76 is laterally reciprocable.

The upper surface of the top wall la has a plurality ofcircumferentially disposed upwardly opening semi-spherical recesses dufor .ted therein and a ball detent 82 is carried by the end cap dil andis resiliently urged downwardly into seated engagement with a selectedone of the recessesk S0 by means of a leaf spring 84. ln this manner,the end cap all which is rotatable relative to the side, bottom and topwalls l2, ld and 13, respectively of the dispenser lll' with the shankportion 44 may be secured in adjusted rotated position. The arm 76, bybeing held captive in the slot 7S, keys the shank portion d4 forrotation with the end cap dll and it is to be understood that theengagement of the ball detent i2` with a selected one of the recessesSli will properly position the arm 7o in registry with the bottom of aselected one of the pressurized containers 2,4.

With attention now directed to FIGURE 2 of the drawings in particular itwill be noted that the top wall 18 is provided with indicia 83 forindicating which pressurized container 26 is in position tobe actuatedby means of the arm 76 upon depression of the outer end of the free endof the actuating lever 54.

As previously set forth, it is to be understood that the dispenser 1t)may be readily adapted for use with pressurized containers having valveassemblies which are actuated in a manner different from the valveassemblies 66 without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable .modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.V

What is claimed as new is vas follows:

l. ln combination, a plurality of pressurized containers each providedwith manually actuatable discharge valves, support means for supportingsaid containers and including abutment means for engagement with each ofsaid valves for actuating the latter, and movable actuator meansselectively engageable with each of said containers for effectingmovement of a selected valve relative to its correspondingabutmentmeansand into engagement therewith in order to actuate said selected valvemeans.

2. The combination ofclaim l wherein said support means includes meansfor supporting said containers in a predetermined pattern, said actuatormeans including a portion mounted for movement in said predetermined Ypattern andl selectively registerable with said containers.

v3. The combination of claim 2 including means for releasably retainingsaid actuator means in selected positions registered with a selected oneof said containers.

4. ln combination, a plurality of pressurized containers each providedwith manually actuatable discharge valves, support means for supportingsaid containers and including abutment means for engagement with each ofsaid valves for actuating the latter, and movable actuator meansselectively engageable with each of said containers for effectingmovement of a selected container and its discharge valve relative .toits corresponding abutment means and into engagement therewith in orderto actuate said selected valve7 said containers each having an end wallthrough which the corresponding valve means is secured, each of saidvalve means including an actuator movable longitudinally and inwardly ofthe corresponding valve means, said support means including meanssupporting said containers for longitudinal reciprocal movement, saidabutment means opposing said actuators, said actuator means beingselectively registerable with the ends of said containers remote fromsaid valve means and movable toward said valve means into engagementwith said containers for eifecting longitudinal movement of a selectedcontainer toward said abutment means.

5. In combination, a support having opposite walls,

a plurality of pressurized containers supported by said I support, thecontainers being supported by one of said walls and movable toward theother, said pressurized containers each including discharge valve meanshaving actuator means movable inwardly of the corresponding container ina direction toward said one wall for discharging that valve means, saidsupport including an actuator selectively registerable with the portionsof said containers remote from said valve means, said other wallincluding abutment means engageable by said actuator means, saidactuator being movable toward said other wall and into engagement with aselected container for urging movement of the latter toward said otherwall.

6. In combination, a plurality of pressurized containers each includingvalve means having movable actuator means, support means supporting saidcontainers, and a movable actuator carried by said support selectivelyoperatively engageable with said containers for effecting movement ofsaid actuator means and subsequent discharge of the contents of thepressurized containers.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said support means includes meansfor supporting said containers in a predetermined pattern and formovement in a predetermined path while maintaining said pattern, each ofsaid actuator means being operable upon movement of the correspondingcontainer in said path, said actuator including means for effectingmovement of a selected one of said containers.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said pattern is annular, saidcontainers each being reciprocal along a line extending at right anglesto the plane of said annular pattern. p

9. The combination of claim 8 wherein said actuator includes a shankportion journalled for rotation about and reciprocal along an axis atright angles to said plane and passing through the center point of saidpattern, a laterally directed arm carried by said shank portionengageable with a selected one of said containers and effecting itsmovement along the corresponding path upon reciprocal movement of saidshank.

10. The combination of claim 9 including means operatively connectedbetween said shank portion and said support for releasably retainingsaid shank in adjusted rotated positions.

11. In a device for selectively discharging the contents of a pluralityof pressurized containers provided with projecting movable manuallyactuatable discharge valves, support means supporting the containers inlateral fixed relation to each other, movable actuator means selectivelyengageable with each of said containers for effecting movement of aselected container, and abutment means spaced from the containers andcontacting the discharge valves for allowing movement of the selectedcontainer relative to its discharge valve for discharge of the contentsthereof.

12. The combination of claim 1l wherein the abutment means includes adischarge port for the egress of the content of the containertherethrough.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS912,106 Frazier Feb. 9, 1909 1,013,120 Brodie Jan. 2, 1912 1,693,086Laird Nov. 27, 1928 1,964,362 Nassif June 26, 1934 2,827,203 Stumpp Mar.18, 1958 2,941,696 Homm June 21, 1960

1. IN COMBINATION, A PLURALITY OF PRESSURIZED CONTAINERS EACH PROVIDED WITH MANUALLY ACTUATABLE DISCHARGE VALVES, SUPPORT MEANS FOR SUPPORTING SAID CONTAINERS AND INCLUDING ABUTMENT MEANS FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH EACH OF SAID VALVES FOR ACTUATING THE LATTER, AND MOVABLE ACTUATOR MEANS SELECTIVELY ENGAGEABLE WITH EACH OF SAID CONTAINERS FOR EFFECTING MOVEMENT OF A SELECTED VALVE RELATIVE TO ITS CORRESPONDING ABUTMENT MEANS AND INTO ENGAGEMENT THEREWITH IN ORDER TO ACTUATE SAID SELECTED VALVE MEANS. 